WHITTIER, Calif. — The offense came alive for its two most prolific games of the young season, but it wasn't enough to grab a victory as Cal State Monterey Bay water polo fell to Whittier College 10–9 and Pomona–Pitzer 18–10 Saturday at the Slade Aquatics Center on the Whittier campus.

A furious comeback saw the Otters score the last five goals of the game, only to fall one short against the host Poets in Saturday morning's opener. The Otters led into the second period of their afternoon match versus Pomona–Pitzer before the Sagehens exploded for 11 unanswered goals to break open a 6–6 tie.

Marisa Lovos (Tualatin [Ore.] HS) led the Otter offense with five total goals Saturday, including three in the opener against Whittier. Morgan Tucker (San Diego/Clairemont HS) and Olivia Woolery (San Diego/Clairemont HS) added three goals apiece, with Tucker scoring all three of hers against Whittier and Woolery scoring two of her three against Pomona–Pitzer.

Sophomore Angela Steele (Agoura HS) scored one goal in each game. Freshman Nicole Lyckfors (Alameda HS) chipped in a pair of goals—her first multi-goal game as a collegian—against the Sagehens.

Goalkeepers Shelby Stephens (Delta College) and Laurel Doyle (Tiburon/Redwood HS) split duties in both games, with Stephens playing the first halves and Doyle the seconds. Stephens finished the day with 10 total saves, including six in the Pomona–Pitzer match. Doyle totaled nine saves, including five against the Sagehens.

CSUMB continues its 17–match roadtrip by heading to the Central Valley to face Fresno Pacific University next Saturday (Feb. 10).